Loud House: New World Crisis

by Lord-Zer0

AU to 'Not a Loud', 9 years into the future, Lincoln and Lucy try to find their way back home to their family after the world changing events of an advanced scientific terrorist organization 'HD' separates the two Louds. – Rated M for adult content (First fic to be posted, PM for honest critique)

9. Chapter 8

[Huh, I cut down half the content I had planned and I still had a lot left. This being a slow gives me plenty of time to set up, but I get the feeling it's kind of boring, hopefully I can move on to a different section soon. The other parts I have planned have a more bigger cast than just the loud sisters]

[Disclaimer: I don't own the Loud House or anything really, just this fanfiction]

Posted 5/18/20

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-Chapter 8-

Since she was a little hell spawn, Lucy has always believed in a world of black and white; right is right and wrong is wrong, truth was truth and lies were lies.

An undeniable fact she always championed was that if there was any truth in this life, it's that death is absolute, it was fair, unavoidable and inevitably THE END. That is until Lincoln came back from the dead.

It's a day she'd rather not remember. Early on at the age of 14, Lucy has witnessed Lincoln kill, maim and destroy lives, in self-defense and out of the wickedness in his heart for his enemies, she's seen him do horrible things, that is no lie. So it really wasn't a surprise when a bunch of his victims had banded together to kill him.

In a small town back in Nevada (because that's where a lot of things happened) Lincoln and Lucy had been tending to a bunch of kids after killing a so-called 'warlord'.

Even before their encounter with the hellfire club, Lincoln still tried to help children. Perhaps it was around that time that she imagined a future with her raising kids alongside… Lincoln for some reason.

A group of people made their way into town and Lucy found herself in an abandoned building after following the sounds of children crying but a needle was stuck into her neck.

Lucy was taken hostage, drugged and held at gunpoint as Lincoln was forced to stay his hand and let his enemies tear into him. He tried to fight back but a bullet at pointblank range pierced her lower body, Lincoln tried to go to her but when the gun was raised to her head he knew to keep still and silent.

A group of twenty-something (by Lincoln's retelling) people and mutants had beaten him, cut into him, and even disemboweled him but he was still breathing. If not for the kids the two helped, making their way to save Lucy with a Lincoln clone, they may not have made it.

With Lucy free and away, Lincoln used every last fiber of his being to kill his tormentors and bring down the building around him but as luck would have it, it was the start of a very unfortunate encounter with the blob monster.

The gelatinous skin sack with varying limbs had somehow found the two at such a terrible time and with a squadron of DUP leveling the town, when everybody met up it was Armageddon, a real free for all.

To surmise, Lincoln and the blob killed the DUP agents as they tried to take each other out with Lincoln driving it away but not with cost. Before it fled, the blob sought to strike and kill Lucy, for food maybe but Lincoln took the hits, tendrils drilling their way into Lincoln's chest no doubted shredding his heart from the looks of holes in his chest.

After sending a destructive force of shimmering white light onto the beast Lincoln fell and died while Lucy and the children were doing their best to save him.

Lucy wanted to be left alone and with his corpse she threw out all of her grief, how much she hated him, how much pain he caused, the reality that she couldn't live without him and how much she loves him.

He was buried in that town behind an old church and made a silent prayer which was ironic considering at the time she was the furthest thing to a woman of faith. After everything she'd seen, Lucy had all but renounced any form of worship, but for the sake of her brother, she made a prayer for his soul to find rest and redemption in the afterlife.

After the funeral, Lucy couldn't find it in her heart to leave Lincoln and by the morning of the next day he rose from the grave. It certainly made a believer out of her, thanking all the wondrous spirits that looked over them especially her great-great grandmother Harriet.

Lincoln was dead for sure, no two ways about it and though she knows it was his mutant powers, she can't seem to shake that something grander was at play.

From that moment, the one truth she's always known, death being an absolute was suddenly subjective in Lincoln's case.

Lucy questioned many things from then on, Life, Lincoln, herself and even the afterlife but leaving faith and miracles aside, Lucy began to look inward for happiness now having Lincoln back and seeing him trying to move on with his life.

Lucy watched Lincoln fool around in those brothels and figured she should move on too.

At age 15, she was a real beauty, even with her hair covering half her face, she was sought after but she could never really look at guys the same after what happened to her.

It was at this point that Lucy had begun what Lincoln in the future would refer to as her 'sexy phase'; she started seeing girls and making a connection but nothing ever lasted.

Either they were too forward and expected too much or she was too reserved but no one stuck around long.

Then her mind sight came around and she started following everyone around, one day she followed Lincoln and the women he was with and watched them and at one point asked herself why that couldn't be her.

That opened up Pandora's box and eventually Lucy came to the conclusion that she might have feelings for Lincoln but questioned if she should act on it, initially she decided no, that was until she saw and 'felt' how great he was.

Lucy started watching Lincoln all the time, he had begun emotional and (mostly) physical relationships with other women, sometimes two or even three at a time for a while but those ended too.

One time she got very curious and tested something, she could feel and understand someone's feelings and for a long time Lucy thought she was limited to just emotions but discovered feelings were more than just mental stimulations.

In the midst of spying on Lincoln having a go at twins, Lucy wanted to know how they felt while Lincoln was inside them. Lucy found out she could simulate the physical sensations someone felt through their sense of touch, she could know what others were feeling (physically).

Vicariously she's known what it felt Like to have Lincoln inside her and those simulated feelings were enough to get her off so many times. The best part of that power was she could relive those feelings any time she wanted and they've comforted to her for a long time.

Until she had enough of pretending to feel, she wanted the real Lincoln. But a thought made its way into Lucy mind, should she pursue Lincoln? It was one thing to read about an incestuous romance in the pages of a novel, it was another to engage in it herself, even if they weren't blood related there had to be something wrong with it.

Then Lucy thought hard on it, she really didn't have a problem with Lincoln, at the very least not with him.

She argued with herself for a long time but ultimately knew she wasn't against it, but was Lincoln?

One day she got her chance with a fake date at Lincoln's suggestion but it was the venture Lucy needed, handed to her on a silver platter.

She went all out, remembering a piece of advice from Lori and Leni, 'if you don't want them to see you as just a friend, by the end of the first date, go for the kiss, even if they pull away, they have to know, you're interested and girlfriend material,' and so she did and as expected, he pulled away.

With some time apart Lincoln decided to give it a try and see how it works out, neither have regretted it since.

And now here she was; trying to find a way to make love to her boyfriend but something keeps getting in her way. Morning came as the sun light was any indication, she woke up with a sigh and knew she needed to take care of some business in the shower.

Lucy makes her way to the bathroom to relive tension and get ready for the day.

-XxX-

-Kent House-

Kara had awoken with her body hovering over her bed with the sheets draped over her… again.

*Sigh* "Again, is this ever gonna stop?" She asks herself not expecting an answer.

It wasn't easy dealing with this, a few years back, all Kara needed was to fly around for a bit and burn off this pent up energy inside of her. Now, she knows she needs something more grueling to keep herself in check.

Sometimes she looks out in the distance and just wishes she could take off and drift to her hearts content. Unfortunately there are just too many dangers out there, B.O.W's aside there are people who don't take kindly to mutants and will shoot without thinking twice or so she's been told by drifters.

Her typical routine of floating around her room really wasn't doing it for her these days and it really didn't help that her current environment didn't provide the means of testing the scope of her abilities.

She's never seen her top speed and due to various circumstances, Kara's never really gone high enough to touch the actual clouds.

As she circles her bed she thinks back to when she saw something weird go on with her flying powers or if it really ever was that, when she woke up floating, exorcist style, her bed sheets were hovering over her, not draped on her, actually above her and it didn't look like gravity really had an effect on it.

Any time Kara tries to lift things with her mind, Jedi style, she gets nothing, maybe that's why she's excited to befriend Smallville's newest (temporary) residents.

Kara's met drifters and out of towners but most of them weren't like her and her family, the ones that were, didn't reveal themselves and the ones she knows in town, don't use them much.

There aren't a lot of people her age to begin with, there seems to be a noticeable gap between the early teens and full grown adults. Not too many young adults in Smallville.

Those thoughts ended after she touches the ground. She takes a breath and gains a smile after remembering who's coming over tonight. 'Maybe they could help me with my powers, maybe even figure this out.'

She wasn't like her sister and cousins.

Karen soaked up sunlight and gets beefy, she'd burn and blast things, and that's about it. Clark was the gentle giant, at least compared to most guys, He is super strong, she's never seen how much he can lift or more specifically what his limit was. He shared similar powers with his brother but Conner was just a brute with a chip on his shoulders, nothing like cousin Clark and nowhere near as strong.

Then Kara remembered, she accidentally let it slip that Lincoln could copy powers, after delivering the new of Lincoln and Lucy's attendance, she was bombarded with question after question, she mindlessly answered her sister's question about Lincoln's powers.

Conner was angry, well he's always angry but then his fragile ego took over and proclaimed that Lincoln really isn't worth anything on his own.

Still, Kara hopes everything goes well, she'd like some new friends for as long as they'll be around. Conner's a brooding dick, Clark doesn't share any of her interests or really have much in common with her and finally her big sister is the overprotective, snarky, flirty type who has people her own age to hang out with.

With that, Kara gets ready for the day.

-XxX-

Lincoln has been getting antsy; he usually has a routine wherever he settles down for any extended period of time. Nothing too complicated; a decent workout including free running and sparring if he could find the people for it, he'd settle for just one copy but now things are complicated with Kara in the know.

He needed to burn some energy to take the edge off, using every boy's first partner after last night's failure did nothing for him. He really doesn't want to put anything on Lucy but she's been testing his limits. There have been times when he'd fantasize about taking her on the spot whenever she flashed him the goods, the things he'd do to her, do for her.

While Lucy showers, Lincoln takes the time to meditate and clear his thoughts and plan the day. He knows there is that dinner date with the Kents but it was morning and there was a lot that could be done and then he gets an idea as soon as he sees Lucy exit the bathroom.

They don't have that awkward, morning after, rom-com troupe where they avoid eye-contact, they can put their problems aside or at least pretend nothing's wrong and take it one day at a time.

"Lucy, we're going to the library, it's time we got you caught up on your studies." He told his pale lover.

She stares on for a moment before speaking, "Sigh, do we have to?"

"Yup, we don't always land in a decent town with books; not just a few skin mags, the occasional bible or useless tech manuals, I mean books to learn from."

It was fortunate that due to Lisa's tutoring, Lincoln was more than a few years above his level in high school. She had educated him in multiple branches of science, including but not limited to practical and theoretical physics, chemistry, biology (mostly human anatomy), medicinal sciences, a great deal of math, astrology etc.

Lincoln is in no way a true expert in those fields but he knows enough to get by and most of it has come in handy.

He could keep up with the lectures Lisa gives to college students but Lucy didn't have that, she was barely in 6th grade when the walls came up and it was rare that the two happened upon the correct learning materials for Lincoln to teach Lucy what he could.

Lincoln has gotten his hands on whatever he could to learn and keep his mind sharp, some outpost camps had educators and Lincoln's been learning at an astonishing rate, maybe another mutant thing as suggested by Lucy.

Lucy spoke again, "Couldn't we just relax for the day."

"C'mon Luce, you know what Luan used to say, 'Lose your smarts and blondes will be making jokes about you,' besides, I wanna see what they have, I've been wanting to get back into calculus, it really helps with my aim and well, other stuff too."

"Sigh, very well." Lucy admits defeat as the three set off.

-XxX-

Back home in Michigan, Lincoln wouldn't be caught at a library, not while he had Lisa, the internet or you know a social life, but times have changed and the sight of a building filled with so many books nearly had Lincoln tears.

It has been too long since Lincoln could indulge on reading material.

Lucy looks over to Lincoln after feeling an overwhelming sense of excitement and joy.

"Lincoln, are you alright- Are you crying?" She asks seeing tears welling up through the gap in his shades.

Lincoln turns and wipes his eyes, "What… no, it's just some just some dust from these old books *"you're wearing sunglasses"* c'mon, I know we left off in trigonometry, finished up US history. I think by the time we're ready to leave we'll have finished high school."

Lucy smile for a moment, "And we'll finally be done with this?" She asks hopefully.

*Snrkt* "Nope!"

"W-What!" She gasps.

"What, you just want to settle for high school, I thought you'd wanna tackle college next." Lincoln spoke with a devilish grin as Lucy frowned.

"… Sigh, may the sweet embrace of death take hold of me now, for if the future is as bleak as you have deemed, I need not go on, I've lived an eventful life, not long but filled with treasured memories." She delivers with clear distain in her voice.

*Sigh* "Fine, I guess after 'high school', we can take a hiatus and pick things back up at home."

Lucy's frown inverts, "And like that, you have saved me once again, my white knight. Let's get started."

Lincoln sighs as they both look around to see, Slade's special-forces running the place, a few people, possibly the librarian, her employees or whoever is left to man it.

~X~

On a table sat Lincoln, Lucy and a big stack of books.

With helpful advisory from the head librarian, Lincoln got a heaping stack of textbooks, and really anything he thought he needed, Lucy was understandably upset until she realized they were mostly for him.

She couldn't care less what they were but got the impression that they were more advanced than what she was working on, by leagues. They reminded her of what Lisa would have in her room to pass the time. The book Lincoln was currently reading had a title that Lucy didn't even want to attempt to pronounce, the only thing she could read was 'math' and even then it was in the middle of a long word.

She glances at Lincoln's uncovered eyes and saw them look left to right at a rapid pace, if she didn't know better, she'd say he wasn't even reading but no, Lincoln can just tear through a book that fast.

"Can you really read that, Lincoln?" She asks partly out of curiosity and maybe to procrastinate.

Lincoln shrugs, "More or less, some parts are easier than others, can make sense out of most of it but some of it goes over my head, really makes me wish I had Lisa right now."

"Sigh, why torture yourself by trying to teach yourself, I'm sure you would be forgiven for not wanting to obtain knowledge you cannot grasp on your own." Lucy reasons.

"I spent a lot of time just surviving and fighting, when we get back home, I don't want to be known as 'the big dumb savage' or hindered by a high school level education- Correction, unfinished high school level education."

Lucy retorts, "You and I both know with what Lisa has filled your head with, you could never just be a 'savage' you are more intelligent than most people of average brain function as Lisa would put it. Your willingness to put in the time to learn is proof enough but still, I suppose you are right, a bright mind is a necessity for when we are liberated from this cage."

It was then the head librarian, an elderly woman with white hair done in a bun, with thick glasses and a simple cream colored dress, approached Lincoln and Lucy.

"Excuse me, dearies but I couldn't help but overhear, did you say you both hadn't finished school?" She asks as Lincoln hesitantly answers.

"Well, uh… yes, Ma'am. Before all of this happened, we were still in school."

The woman looked solemn before opening her mouth. "I heard about the two of you from the Lieutenant, I also heard you'd be with us for some time but to think you were just children when they attacked.

It breaks my heart knowing there were so many children just as young as the two of you… left alone, forced to grow up, not even to finish school.

Things have been quiet here for years, I've worked here for 40 years and I know the worst things kids your age had to worry about were exams, getting away from school and looking for that special someone in their lives, hehe.

*Sigh* Now, all the kids are thinking about is what's outside of town, like that sweet boy, Conner."

That grabbed Lincoln and Lucy's attention for a moment, "I know people are fed up with his attitude but let me tell you, he was just the sweetest, like his brother, they used to come in together when Clark was still in school, the boy liked reading and was just adorable. His brother worked here a short time, Jonathan raised a gentleman, helped around, tidy things up and helped his brother with homework.

Those were simple times, Clark still comes in but Conner… growing up with all this negativity and everyone wondering if or when trouble will find its way to us-

OH, forgive me, I was just rambling, I almost forgot why I came here, I'm sure I can pull a few strings with the teachers here and maybe help the two of you catch up." She offered as Lincoln spoke again.

"That… is a very generous offer ma'am but we won't even be here that long-" He's cutoff as the librarian speaks again.

"Oh nonsense. All children should be entitled to an education, the mind is a very terrible thing to waste and seeing what you're reading, I'm sure some of the teachers would appreciate your work ethic, not even in school and you're still trying to learn, that's more than I can say for most of the kids here.

Just give it some thought, alright." She finishes at Lincoln looks to Lucy.

"We'll think about it." Lincoln says as the woman smiles.

"That's all I can ask." And so she leaves, letting Lincoln tutor Lucy in peace.

-XxX-

A few hours later, the two exit the Library on their way to the diner for Lunch when Lucy had a thought.

"Lincoln, do you think we should bring something for Kara and her family?"

"Like what?" Lincoln responded.

"I don't know, it just seems like something people do when they're invited over for dinner."

"Yeah, that sounds like something we'd do back home, so, got any ideas, I'm all ears."

"…Dinner rolls?" Lucy started.

"Everyone makes those for dinner, besides, those are too simple."

"Sigh, a casserole?"

"Too suburban, not our style." He shot her down without a second thought.

"Maybe something dad used to make, like his mac and cheese bites?"

Lincoln thinks for a moment, "Nah, that's too good for them on the first dinner-date, maybe in the future, plus limited cooking station." Just one electric stove does not make a fully furnished kitchen.

"Sigh, then how about a dessert, you're good with those."

Lincoln thinks as they've made it to the diner.

"That might work if we had a real kitchen to work with- You know what, were getting lunch here, maybe we can work something out, ~ooh but what to make~?"

"How about those slutty chocolate cheesecake bars, I remember being put into a sugary coma with those back home." She said, fondly remembering the experience.

"Well yeah, you had like a whole tray, ahh slutty bars, if you feel an itch, get tested, it's probably not diabetes, Luan ruined that dinner but fuck me, it had me rolling. On second thought not this time, but I might have just the thing, guaranteed to make a good impression."

Lucy's eyes lit with excitement for sweets, "And what is it?"

Lincoln's lips curled into a wicked grin, "Oh you'll see." He chuckled a little as Lucy pouted.

~X~

After Lunch, Lincoln and Lucy decide to split up, Lincoln to prepare the dessert and Lucy wanted to see how her dresses were coming along.

-Lincoln-

He had asked a favor from the owner and with a cash bribe, he had free reign for the next few hours.

Lincoln had taken inventory and saw they surprisingly had exactly what he needed, 'The benefits of being so close to the border, although that may not be the case for a while if what Slade said was true but never mind that, Let's make a Lynn-sagna: dessert style'.

-Lucy-

Lucy had been surprised to say the least, two dresses already done.

Having Leni as a benchmark, Lucy knows making a dress isn't easy but can be done quickly and given that the husband and wife pair made clothing, it would make sense that the two of them together could make their jobs easier.

She had been told that not having many customers gave the tailor and seamstress more than enough time to get her orders ready on short notice.

Right now, Lucy was admiring herself in one of her new outfits, a bit snug in the chest but it worked for her, 'Will Lincoln love this?' She thought as she remembered last night and frowned before taking a breath.

-XxX-

Lucy and Salem were in the motel waiting on Lincoln. Salem was scarfing down on some chicken and Lucy, in a towel was deciding which dress to wear when suddenly the door opened and out came Lincoln.

Lucy saw Lincoln walk in with two serving dishes that were covered giving no visual cues as to what was inside but she could smell it. They were just so tempting, she had to ask.

"~Lincoln!~ If I ma-" She was interrupted by Lincoln.

"Nope! You'll see what it is when the time comes and that time is-"

He is stopped in his tracks as Lucy drops the towel covering her nude form, she slowly saunters over and a swing of her hips in each step, "Now." She stated, Lincoln is frozen, unable to take his eyes of her, not even caring that the dishes were lifted from his hands and brought over to her as the tops were lifted and Lucy gasped.

She could smell the toasted coconut, the pudding and fresh cream mixed together and layered on top of each other, chocolate and caramel sauce drizzled and coating the delicious bounty.

She knew what she was looking at. Layers upon layers of sweets, truth be told, Lucy doesn't always knows what's in it until she tries it, 'Lincoln's Dessert Lynn-sagna' and she couldn't wait to get a taste.

Though not having been known for having a sweet tooth, Lucy, like her sisters is a raging choco-holic and secretly more so a choco-fiend, as coined by Lincoln. She's come to worship Lincoln's culinary crafting techniques for anything sweet and caked in chocolate, she would not be denied.

Lucy slowly dipped her finger into the dessert or she would have had a hand not stopped her.

Lucy looked back at the monster who dared to keep her from her confectionary goodness, Lucy turned to Lincoln, lips quivering and dainty arms looped around his neck and stood on the tips of her toes.

*Sigh* "No, Lucy. You can't sample the goods, I know you won't stop with one bite."

She tilted her head and looked down to see a bulge and smirked.

"Well, I'm sure we can work something out, I can get a treat and then you can get a treat, ~would that not be an even trade, dear heart?~" She purred that last bit as Lincoln tried to remain strong.

"A-are you whoring yourself out for snacks Luce?" Lincoln gasped. "Is that what we've come to now?"

"I like to think of it as 'quid pro quo', no need to argue, just do what feels right and then you can help me choose what to wear." Lucy said now starting to leave a trail of kisses on his neck traveling downward.

Lincoln swallows a lump in his throat.

"No! I won't give in, vile temptress, you cannot break me." He says as Lucy unhooks her arms and begins walking away.

Lucy slowly struts back to her towel, giving Lincoln a show with her firm, shifting cheeks, "Oh but Lincoln, you know I only speak the truth, I can certainly deliver on my promises, especially when your treats provide the incentive." She accentuates the word 'incentive' as she bends over to retrieve her fallen fabric, exposing herself to Lincoln and then walks onward without looking back. But she knows.

'Very well, Lincoln, I can be patient but I guarantee it'll be torture for you, my love. It appears you must be taught, never to come between me and my desires.' She though as she was overcome by an extreme feeling of desire and a need for release. She smirks.

-XxX-

*Clack Clack Clack* were the sounds of flat heels making contact with pavement as Lincoln and Lucy made their way through town on route to the Kent farm.

Lincoln was carrying the serving dishes and Lucy was carrying Salem.

Lucy was as happy as she could be, on the inside, she's caught Lincoln's gaze more than a few times, every step she took, her heavy chest bounced and she was happy that her silver haired lover was taking it all in.

On their way through town, many people had stopped to look back at the two, with a mixture of curiosity, enticement and a touch of fear mixed with unease. The two looked great, it's not every day they get to dress nicely and visit… friends for dinner.

Lincoln's hair looked neat except for a loose cowlick he just can't tame, almost resembling a shonen protagonist with the way his bangs reach his eyes but never cover them.

A clean black dress shirt with the sleeves done up and the top buttons undone to reveal soft orange shirt underneath. The pants he wore were equally as dark as his shirt and in rare form, shoes, bought from the boutique at the last minute but matching all the same.

The sunglasses were a turnoff with all the aforementioned black clothes, it was too wannabe secret agent-y but he'd remove them when he reached his destination.

A few ladies whistled and called out to Lincoln as he only waved but they immediately felt a chill and backed off at the sight of an angry Lucy, meanwhile the men couldn't take their eyes off of her, super spooky and ominous but at the same time very alluring and her outfit made it hard not to want to admire her figure.

Lucy's long black hair swayed with her movements as they covered her eyes, like they have for most of her life, with strands that draped over her shoulders. Black nail polish that seemed to drain light and left a dull sheen, upon her lips were something akin to pink lip gloss that brought out the fullness of her lips.

The eye-catch, her new dress, from her shoulders to her wrists is a dark lacy fabric that hugged her arms. Starting at her bust and ending below her knees was a black, form-fitting dress, it caressed and brought out her curves, those womanly curves that couldn't help but capture the attention of unsuspecting men that were driven away as soon as Lincoln turned to them. Bellow the dress were her exposed legs that were garbed in the same dark lacy fabric that adorned her arms but as stockings and on her feet were simple black shoes.

The trio made their way in relative silence, only the sound of Lucy's shoes could be hear as they've left the town and made their way onto the dirt road.

It was then that Lucy decided to Levitate a foot off the ground as Lincoln broke into a light jog, of about 40 mph with Lucy keeping up just fine.

-XxX-

-Kent House-

"Ugh, how could I be so stupid!" Kara yelled at herself, fresh out of the shower, hair still wet, only in her t-shirt and jeans.

She had forgotten to tell the Loud duo that she would pick them up. Honestly were they expected to walk all the way to the farm no complains, just for dinner with the family?

She had raced down the steps just as she was stopped by her cousin, Clark.

"Woah, slow down. I'll go get them, by the time we're back, Ma should be done and then we can eat." Clark reasoned, always trying to be the responsible big brother type.

"B-but, I messed up, I should've be the one to get them, I completely spaced out on this, and I was pushing to get them here in the first place." Kara argued.

"You're not even ready and I'm sure they aren't either, dinner's going to be a bit late and this is probably new for them too, not everything's going to be perfect, so just relax an-"

*Knock Knock Knock* The sound came from the door, maybe one of the soldiers coming by, Conner gets the door just as angsty and inelegant as always.

He opens the door to see both the object of his (current) anger and the object of his desire as of late.

He didn't want to admit it but they both looked great if oddly dark in their current fashion.

But before he could say anything, Lincoln spoke up.

"Connie, good to see you, how is everyo-" *SLAM*

Lincoln chuckled and turned to Lucy, "Was it something I said?" He asked in mock ignorance as he removed his shades.

"Sigh, honestly Lincoln, why do you antagonize him so, I'm becoming fed up with the routine." Lucy deadpans.

"Honestly, he makes it too easy, besides, I'm never a dick to people who aren't one, first." He replies.

Lincoln knocks on the door again and waits a bit before, it opens again to reveal Kara's older sister, 'Shit, what was her name again?'

She wore something similar to when Lincoln and Lucy met the family, a tight shirt, light jacket and jeans.

Karen took a good look at Lincoln. Now that she had a second chance to give him the once over, she could admit he was handsome and tall, taller than her, that's not common around these parts. Her eyes narrow slightly as a grin is plastered across her face.

"~Well hello there, handsome~. Don't you clean up well?" Her eyes locked onto his and she was mesmerized, those burning golden orbs that radiated power made her seize up for a moment as she was caught off guard, her grin widened and she pushed her chest out a little.

Suddenly, Karen's spine quivered with a sense of dread. She looked over to Lucy who held a straight face but Karen had the sneaking suspicion that she was giving her the stink eye.

Lincoln spoke up, "Why thank you…uh, *"Karen"* KAREN! Wonderful to see you again, Karen." Lincoln laughed a little but before Karen could respond, Kara pushed her away.

"Lincoln, Lucy, you're… super early, it's like 4 and you're here… on your own. Did you guys really just walk all the way here?" She asked before she was stunned by the two, all dressed up for dinner.

Kara had put on a shirt over her plain shirt.

The two lovers looked to each other and shrugged before Lincoln answered, "Well yeah, you didn't tell us if we were getting a lift and we know it's a bit early but we really didn't want to wait for it to get dark before we decided to show up." He explained as Kara looked down.

"I am really sorry about that, I didn't mean to leave you in the dark. Also dinner is not quite ready yet, so you're gonna have to wait a while."

Lincoln stopped her, "Hey, it's cool. No harm done, our fault, we wanted to get here early. Oh and before I forget, WE brought a little something." Lincoln said as Lucy looked away with a huff, he presented the two serving dishes.

Kara's eyes widen with excitement, "~Oooh~, what do we have here?" She asks wondering what her new friends have given her.

"Oh, just a little something for dessert and a heads up, the choco-fiend here will stop at nothing to get her hands on these, so make sure to keep an eye ou- Oww!" Lincoln yelps as an invisible force hits him over the head.

"Sh-shut up!" Lucy exclaimed, already embarrassed over her addiction being outed to her new friend.

Lincoln smirked as they were invited in by Kara.

Karen wasted no time in asking to hold Salem. Lucy, with some reluctance handed her over with a silent command to be good.

Lincoln and Lucy were given the tour. The Kent house was beautiful, it really felt like a home, every picture telling a story that fills the house with life and memories to share.

The walls, floors and ceiling were wooden, just about every step make a creaking sound, everyone's except Lincoln's, he's learned never to make a sound walking years ago and no one was quick to point it out.

Lincoln had been reintroduced to Clark who's handshake had a fierce grip, much stronger than Karen's, it kind of hurt Lincoln a bit, though he hadn't made it known.

Lincoln got a better look at Clark, he knew he was still taller but couldn't help but admire Clark's larger frame, even with a great body Lincoln can still get jealous of other guys. It happens.

It seems this family just loves simple shirts and jeans, was it a common trend at the Kent house?

He re-meet, Jonathan and Martha who were in the kitchen, she gave her thanks for the dessert, originally, apple pies had been planned but a certain someone who was not named forgot to get what she needed.

As she was taking something out of the oven, she was distracted by Conner, he was just leering over towards Lincoln when she called out to him, but her large metal pan slipped out of her grip and was headed for the floor, dinner would be ruined.

That was until it appeared in Lincolns hand, he was so fast, he caught and held the pan in between his hands, Martha was in shock but as she snapped out of it, she quickly took the pan from him and brought his hands to her in horror, imagining how badly his palms must be burnt only to discover they're fine.

She'd asked if he was alright and his reply was casual, Martha was at a loss, even with powers, her kids could still get burned if they weren't careful, but to see Lincoln handle something that's been roasting in her oven for a long time, like it was nothing, really made her wonder.

Lincoln and Lucy moved on with their tour. In the den, Karen had put on a movie that the two didn't seem interested in. Lucy had talked with Kara and Lincoln just tried to pretend he didn't know Conner was staring at him.

Lincoln had spotted something interesting, a magazine. Something felt familiar about it as something compelled him to grab it and turn it over and he couldn't believe his eyes.

*Gasp* "Ace Savvy!" He announced, as Kara's head turned to him.

It was Ace Savvy, the playing card themed hero, the cover was of him and his partner, one-eyed Jack.

Kara approached him carefully, "You're uhh, familiar with Ace?" She asks with some hesitation in her voice.

"Uh YEAH, it was only my favorite series! Y'know not enough people appreciated him, I had to be the biggest nerd for Ace, heh, me and my bud used to draw our own comics about us being Ace and One-eyed Jack." He said with excitement and Kara's eyes shined.

"Oh…My…GOD! Finally, someone who gets me!" She almost shouted as Lincoln looked to her with curiosity and her cheeks redden.

"Well, what do you know? I didn't think anyone read Ace Savvy anymore." Lincoln said just gazing at the comic book.

"Y'know, it's so hard to meet fans, I could talk about him for days." Kara told with a big toothy grin. "Can I show you something?" She asks but before she got an answer, Kara led Lincoln by the arm, upstairs to her room as Lucy followed.

Lincoln took this opportunity to be snarky, "Wow, a little forward don't you think? I mean, I just met your family and what would Lucy think about this." He smirked as Kara stopped, looked back with a mighty blush and Lucy half-heartedly glares at Lincoln.

"Shut up and prepare to be amazed." Kara spoke with her back to Lincoln.

"Yeah, wouldn't be the first time a girl told me that while dragging me somewhere private." He muttered that while elbowing at Lucy who's glare turned icy.

Lincoln was brought into a furnished bedroom with a nice big bed, a mirror, a closet and a mess of videotapes and discs (probably for movies), he saw a few old televisions in the tour, Lincoln even spotted some handheld gaming devises, ones that were battery operated.

Lincoln was starting to get worried as Kara stopped in front of her closet and opened it in dramatic fashion to reveal… a clothing rack.

Then Kara slid her outfits onto one side of her closet as the now barren side was shown to have a stack of comics all dedicated to Ace Savvy.

"~Dun Dun Dun Duuuun~!" Kara sang out in reminiscence to an old game series.

Lincoln's eyes widen and the glow in them grew more and more intense but Lucy was uninterested.

It was a treasure trove as Kara picked them up by stacks and Lincoln skimmed each one in awe.

The original Bronze age run, the silver age, gold and so on to the modern era. Her collection was just as big as his and Clyde's combined stash but then his eyes spotted something unreal.

The Infinity Crisis series. Collaboration runs of Ace Savvy meeting other comic heroes.

-Ace and the Black Bat- Vol. 1-3

-Ace and Cat-man Deluxe Edition- (Comic tie for the Cat-man Live-action show)

-Ace vs. The Patriot- Duo issue

-Ace and the Justice Friends: Featuring Major Glory, Van Halen and The Infraggable Krunk- Oneshot

-Ace meets The Crimson Chin- Anthology Special

-Ace Savvy & One-eyed Jack vs. The Dragonfly & The Black Rooster- Vol. 1-6

-Ace Savvy & The Sensational Dragonfly- Anniversary Special

-Ace and The Crow- (For the older, edgier fanbase)

Etc, etc, etc, Lincoln never thought he'd ever see let alone touch the physical, paperback limited series comic run, Infinity Crisis. He's only seen images online just like everyone else he knew, until now.

~X~

Lincoln and Kara were talking and reading in her room, occasionally, a very bored Lucy would stretch and push out her ample chest grabbing Lincoln's attention and when she had it, she would bounce and jiggle them as she eyed a hardening muscle that made itself known against his pants.

Lucy was about to do something more suggestive when suddenly a knock alerted them to Karen's presence. The two Ace fans bashfully exited the room with a grinning Lucy and joined everyone at the table.

Conner was minding his own business when Lincoln took the seat beside him, across from Kara and Lucy and that got on his nerves after hearing why Kara took him upstairs, 'So he's nerd too, this guy can not get any worse.

Whatever, it's not like everyone else will like him, they'll see he's just a pest and after tonight and then I'll never have to deal with him. Clark and Karen knows he can't be trusted and Dad is smart enough not to let this guy worm his way into his head. It's not like he really has anything worth saying, I'm looking forward to the awkward peace and quiet.' Conner thought with a smirk.

~X~

-15 Minutes Later-

'God Dammit!' Conner screamed inside his head as he heard the laughter of his family and Lincoln as he regaled them with stories of him and Lucy in the dead-zone.

"…so then we triggered the metal detector and DUP swarms the place-" He's cut off by Lucy.

"Correction, YOU set off the metal detector because you refused to empty your pockets and dump the change." She sent him a slight glare as the laughter was reduced to chuckles.

"75 cents is 75 cents, what am I supposed to do, throw away money!" Lincoln playfully argued as Martha roared in joy.

"Oh, you are just Like Jonathan, money, money, money. Hold onto every cent like it's worth your life." Her husband sends her a glare as Lucy felt smug and validated which Lincoln could feel.

Jonathan speaks up, "Money's money and I very much doubt society has crumbled enough to get by on favors out there and WE still have to pay for things here with money." The Kent patriarch says trying to defend his damaged pride.

Lincoln feels justified and crossed his arms and nods in solidarity.

Conversations continue, with Jonathan and Clark talking about what's needed on the farm and what to take care of next.

Martha and Karen talk about what's new in town, apparently patrol has been running around like crazy after getting some news from over the gates, this made Lincoln turn to them for a brief moment but looked back to Kara as they talked about her game collection and how hard it is to get batteries now, she can't play her larger consoles and all but two of her handhelds are basically dead, the generator just can't support everything, the Kent home not being part of the electrical grid makes it that much of a hassle.

Lincoln's heart went out to Kara for a short while, remembering just how much he misses his games back home. He thought about maybe charging her stuff out of pity but then he remembered he can't reveal himself and curses inward, he was hoping he could play with her.

Conner stares angrily at Lincoln but soon gives up considering no one is feeding his ego or giving him the time of day. He looks over to Salem on the floor enjoying her meal, as if sensing his gaze Salem looks to Conner with intense yellow eyes and glares at him until he looks away.

Lincoln was enjoying his meal until he felt something brush against his leg, he could feel that it was a foot. He looked across to see Lucy, not even looking at him, just eating, her features unchanged, no smirk, no laugh, nothing.

Lincoln knows it's her, he didn't need his powers for that and tried to look down when Kara called out to him, "Lincoln, everything alright?" She saw him fluster.

He quickly dashed her concerns, "Uh, yup, everything's A-Okay, just can't get enough of this… amazing meatloaf." He said with a smile to hide the truth. It was then that Martha addressed him.

"Well, there's plenty, don't worry about asking for seconds." She says not knowing what's really going on.

As another helping was added onto his plate, a stocking clad foot had made its way to his inner thigh, he tried to signal her to stop but it wasn't as if he could just come out and say it.

Then her toes start rubbing his crotch, Lincoln's grip on the utensils was so strong it's a wonder they hadn't warped and deformed yet as Lincoln tried to conceal his erection.

Just as Lincoln was getting used into it and resolved to let Lucy work her magic, the foot pulled back, as he looked up, he saw Lucy flash a quick smile, knowing this freaking tease got him.

Lincoln is left sulking, sporting a flush and Lucy leaves him be but something keeps her from eating.

Lucy picks at the remainder of her dinner; Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and salad, all nice big helpings. Lucy stares at it, it's not bad, in fact it's almost as great as her dad's meatloaf, she just needs a moment to appreciate it along with the scenery, a father, mother, sisters and Lincoln all just talking. For a moment she sees her family as they were years ago and looks despondent, Martha notices it.

"What's wrong, Lucy? Not feeling for meatloaf tonight?" Martha asks with her motherly voice as Lucy winces at her caring tone.

Everyone looks to Lucy as she shrinks before answering, "N-no, sigh, it's just, it's been a while since… I've had a meal like this- Not to say your cooking isn't good, Lincoln, but uh…" She leaves it on a lull before Lincoln picks up.

"It's been a long time since we had a Family meal, is that it?" He asks hitting the nail on the head as Lucy nods.

Martha continues, "Oh, I'm sorry, is your family de-" She's cutoff by a frantic Lucy.

"No- uh they're alive, I think, I know they're safe out of the wall, I guess I'm just feeling homesick is all."

Jonathan then asks, "Wait, then where'd you come from?" It was directed at the two.

Lincoln answers, "Michigan, born and raised." He says on reflex as Pa Kent continues.

"Michigan, you two are a long way from home, huh." He finishes as Karen squawked out her question.

"Then how did you end up HERE?"

Lucy stays silent as Lincoln answers, "Well, her family was invited to this science exposé in Seattle when-" he is stopped by the looks given to him by the Kent family. Their eyes were wide and a few mouths were hanging loose, time seemed to freeze for them as Lincoln called out to them, "Woah guys, are you feeling alright?" Nothing, They just stare at him, "You know I've heard of a stare-down but this is getting weird." Still nothing, Lincoln looks to Lucy as she shrugs.

Finally, after a while Kara speaks up, "Y-you mean, you two were THERE, at… ground-zero?"

Lincoln looks on mentally smacking his forehead, he's never told this story, at least not to people this close to the wall, 'Ground-zero, must be what people are calling it now.' He thinks before answering, "Yeah, I mean we were both-"

*SLAM* Lincoln is halted by the sound of Conner slamming his palms on the dinner table, "Bullshit!" *"Conner"* he looks to his mother who is furious but is ignored, "No fucking way he's telling the truth, there are no survivors!" He shouts as Lucy looked impassive while Lincoln counters.

"Well, I mean we didn't come out of it unscathed, just look at us-" Once again he is interrupted.

"Everyone knows whatever was in that bomb killed everything at ground-zero and the next towns over, there is no Goddamn way you two were there!" Conner knows he has to be lying, there was about a month before the walls came up and the media was all over it, hazmat teams were observing the aftermath and collecting samples to show and tell everyone what happened and it was clear, EVERYONE at and near ground-zero was killed, or transformed into what would later be known as B.O.W.'s. The closer you were to ground-zero and the immediate explosion, in more likelihood you are to be either dead or an abomination by then.

The announcement was made before some strange phenomenon had blocked communications from the states surrounding Washington. People within the wall still don't know what caused it, nor have had any direct, stable communications from outside the wall in years.

Lincoln goes on, "Well that's too bad, we were there and made it out, whether you believe me or not really doesn't matter to me or anyone else." And as he said that Conner looked about ready to throw down until his father put his foot down.

"Damnit boy, will you give it a rest and let him finish, *sigh*, now go on Lincoln."

Lincoln smiles at Jonathan and nods, "Thank you." Lincoln vaguely retells his experience up to the blob while leaving out details that he felt were not needed.

"Why were you there, Lincoln?" Clark raised.

"What?" Lincoln asks as Clark repeats himself.

"Why were you there, wasn't Lucy's family invited?"

"Oh… I'm… close with her family, they took me along." He said flatly as Lucy subtly looked to him, her heart was racing.

Karen asks, "What about your parents, were they just okay with it?"

"Orphan." Lincoln deadpans with no indication of annoyance or irritation, maybe a bit of haste.

"… I am so sorry-" Lincoln waves her off.

"It's fine, don't worry about it." Lincoln finishes as everyone sat in silence, Ma and Pa Kent looked nervous with some pity on their face, Karen and Clark looked to one another as if wanting the other to say something while being lost for words, Conner looked uninterested and still set in his ways but Kara looked to be in deep thought, like she was asking herself a million questions.

Something didn't sit right with Kara as she kept replaying Lincoln's story over and over, feeling as if she was missing something important.

Not appreciating the awkward tension, Lincoln calls out, "So, who's ready for dessert?" Everyone perks up a little.

~X~

Everyone had been… surprised by what Lincoln had brought in, it kind of looked like a mess, it was something coated with chocolate and caramel sauce. The Kents were curious but no one asked, until Conner opened his mouth.

"Alright, I'll do it. What the hell are we looking at?" He asked rudely as his mother was really giving him the stink eye that said, We will have words later.

Lincoln gained a smirk, "What you are looking at, Connie, is my dessert lasagna." As he explained, Conner started huffing, Karen and Clark chuckled at Conner's expense, Kara looked intrigued while Ma and Pa Kent gain a look that was split between uncertainty and deep interest, it's not a normal dessert to be fair and they probably don't know what to expect.

Kara speaks up, "I usually make it a rule to know what's in something new before I put it in my body, so… what's in it?" Lincoln raised an eyebrow.

"Do you have any allergies?"

"No but just looking at this makes me feel like I need a shot of insulin." She jabs at Lincoln's dessert as Lucy's look darkens a bit.

"Fair enough. If I may, Mrs. Kent." He gestures to an unused knife on the table, she lets him use it as he cuts out a square serving and shows it off.

"Like lasagna or a cake, this is layered. For the bottom crust we have a mixture of graham crackers and toasted shredded coconut, the first layer is a thin coating of melted caramel. Next we have chocolate pudding, after, a whipped cream and cream cheese mixture and lastly it's topped with even more toasted coconut and smothered in melted chocolate and caramel. It's typically chilled for a few hours before serving." Lincoln finished before handing the first serving to Kara.

Lucy pouted as Lincoln turned to her with pity and gave a smile, "Be patient." He said in a hush whisper before she nodded.

"Mmmmm, so good." Lincoln turned to hear Kara moaning in delight and that was what her family needed to hear as they waited for their cut as Lincoln smirked.

~X~

Everyone had been happily munching away at their treat and Lucy kept helping herself to more.

Martha and Lincoln had exchanged tips on their cooking as she surprisingly gave helpful critique on his dessert. Some time had passed before mention of having the two over again had surfaced, to which, Lincoln and Lucy happily accepted much to Conner's annoyance as Lucy could feel.

Lincoln spoke up, "Well then, the next time we do this, I'll have to bring over real food and not diabetic shock in a pan and I make a mean brisket if I do say so myself." He says with confidence.

The Kent Matriarch adopted a judging look, "Oh do you now? And what would a young man like yourself know about preparing a brisket?" Lincoln recognized this playful jab of a challenge, a mother who takes feeding her loving family seriously, feels the need to test some uppity 20 year old.

Lincoln plays along, "Oh well, you know, I've played grill master for a couple of barbecues and I've been taught by the best chef I know." Lincoln dramatically ends with a smirk.

"Well then, I guess we'll have to see how well you do won't we." Martha ended while holding in a laugh as her family looks at her strangely as Lincoln replies.

"I guess we will." Lincoln grins.

"Okay, this is starting to get weird." Kara says.

Lincoln retorts, "Really, now it's getting weird, not even considering half the stories about the weird crap I've seen or me going out of my way to prank the DUP with looney tunes styled shenanigans or even the time I started a bar brawl to get out of paying a 15$ tab and even looted top shelf wine."

"And I'd love to hear more some time." She responds.

Then Kara hears her sister mutter, "Yeah, I bet you would." She teased as Kara threw a glare her way just as Lincoln spoke up.

"Well, I guess it's time to pack it in and head back to our place, right Luce?" He calls over to Lucy, who nods and Kara looks disappointed.

"You don't have to leave right away do you, I mean we got some time to kill, maybe a movie or just hanging out and telling us more about what kinds of trouble you got yourselves into." Kara said really wanting the two to stay just a little longer but then Jonathan spoke up.

"C'mon Kara, you don't want to overwhelm them, they'll still be here in town for a while, you'll see them again." His wife continued.

"That's right, tomorrow's another day."

Karen stood up, "Yeah, give them a break sis," she walked over to Kara and put her into a hugging headlock as her sister tried to push her off, "But Linc, do come back again, I wanna see how strong you really are." She give him a smirk, it was at that moment Conner felt the need to show Lincoln up.

"Why bother, we know he's not really strong, he just copies powers, nothing significant about that." As his family grunts and tries to reprimand him, Lincoln was at a loss, where would Conner get that idea, until he looks at Kara and remembers that's his cover story.

Kara looks apologetic at Lincoln but he waves it off, it really doesn't matter to him.

~X~

Jonathan is talking with Lincoln as he and Lucy are sent on their way with a tray of leftovers while Salem hoped into Lucy's shadow.

"You two sure I can't talk you into getting a ride back into town?" He asks knowing it's good form to see his guests safely back home even as they refused.

"Nah, it's cool, anyways, someone's gotta burn of that dessert, right Luce." He playfully jabs at Lucy just as he feels a shiver down his spine.

Lucy turns to him, her face unchanged from uncaring but Lincoln could feel her ire and knew he done fucked up, 'uh oh'.

Jonathan took this as a sign to leave them, for his own safety and wished them well.

Lucy spoke ever so softly with a small smile, "Why, my dear Lincoln, are you calling me FAT?" Her cool tone never raising but Lincoln knew she meant business.

"O-of course not Lucy, i-it was just uhh-" He's trying to back up but something keeps him grounded.

Lucy starts walking to him as he frantically shouts to her, "Lucy, Lucy wait, before you kill me, let me say something.

If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you canpossiblyimagain!" He screeched out before she was upon him, he was forced to bend over to her slightly and he was at eye level.

He opened his mouth but before he could say anything, she cupped his face and buried her lips into his own as her mock rage seemingly disappears like it never even existed. Lucy lets him go and walks ahead of him as he was left to admire her swaying hips and mindlessly followed.

'Good boy,' Lucy thought

-XxX-

Down the dirt road which ran between a parted forest leading into town, something had caused Lincoln to snap to attention and coughed, getting Lucy's attention and passed her the leftovers.

She was getting a reading from Lincoln, Danger and Caution, she took this signal to put up her barrier as her shadow grew darker.

*BANG*

Lincoln tilted his body as a bullet missed him. Lincoln turns to the direction of the bullet's origin and narrowed his eyes, "You might as well come out now!" He called out.

The sun was setting and from tree lines emerged a good number of figures, the two lovers stood as Lincoln took this moment to close his eyes.

'Seven, just seven, all wearing body armor and ski masks, each with pistols.' Lincoln took inventory of his possible opponents as he spied only 6 but knew the seventh was still lurking about, believing they're hidden.

He whispered Seven, to Lucy and to that she subtly nodded, she understood to be on the lookout.

One was very close to the two, Lincoln was cautious as he spoke up.

"So, what's going on in this neck of the woods?" Lincoln snickered at his own bad joke, "Did we break curfew." He said in a joking manner but none answered as the closest one rushed to him.

Lincoln could see it happening in slow motion the first assailant's goes to throw a punch and covering the fist are knuckle dusters, Lincoln effortlessly caught it with one hand, pulled his attacker to him and flipped the person over his head with assistance from his other hand.

The first attacker hadn't expected to be thrown overhead or landing on the ground so hard but rolls away and got onto their feet.

Lincoln expected him to reengage in close quarters but found it strange that his attacker hadn't stepped forward but then Lincoln ducked as a gunshot was sounded and a bullet whizzed by where his shoulder would be.

Lincoln turned for a moment to see three more attackers whip out their guns and point them at him.

Lucy stayed where she was, barely acknowledging the enemy when suddenly a bullet hit an invisible wall and fell to the ground.

"Forget her! Fall back." One barked out, as Lucy raised an arm but was stopped by Lincoln.

"Luce, let me get this." He said as he gave a spinning roundhouse to the attacker trying to flee, they fell to the ground, out cold, "Watch over this one."

Lincoln raced over to the group of now five would-be assailants as they retreated behind the tree lines.

As four ran deeper, the fifth took a shot at Lincoln, he could see it coming and knew where it would hit but he noticed something off about it and as it got nearer, his hand snatched it from midair and it laid between his fingers.

'Rubber bullet?' He thought while trying to understand why go through the trouble of attacking him with non-lethal ammo, were they trying to capture him, were they with the DUP, did they find him again, all questions he would get to later, first he needed to take them down.

The gunman who took a shot at Lincoln was stunned that he just caught that bullet and kept running towards him, he didn't have time to react as Lincoln launched himself at the person and tackled him to the ground.

With one light punch to the dome, Lincoln saw his foe go down. Quickly, Lincoln reached over and grabbed the gun then spotted a knife on their belt and took that too.

After arming himself, Lincoln resumed the chase for his and Lucy's attackers. He jumping up and hopped from tree branch to tree branch, he caught up to the rest in no time.

Lincoln landed as the remaining four each took shots at Lincoln.

*Bang Bang Bang Bang* Over and over, each gun fired but Lincoln didn't take cover, he kept walking forward and swiped at each rubber bullet with his newly liberated knife.

Each sliced and deflected bullet fell helplessly to the ground as Lincoln advanced on his attackers. He jumped over their heads as he turned and flipped, landing in between them all.

One raised a gun, intending to aim at Lincoln but he caught their hand and aimed it up to the sky was it went off with a mighty, *Bang*, then he twisted their wrist making them open their hand and drop the gun.

Suddenly, Lincoln back kicked another one as they were launched to a tree and slumped over in pain.

Not letting go of the one in his grasp, Lincoln, without looking, moved his head where a fist had struck from behind. Lincoln kicked in a leg from the person he was holding onto and made them loose their footing as Lincoln pulled and lifted his victim and threw them by the arms at the one who tried to throw that punch.

In less than 3 seconds Lincoln had downed three more attackers and turned to the last one who looked back as if contemplating what to do but saw no alternative but to fight and as they reached for their gun, a knife shot out skewered it into the ground, so they rushed Lincoln, knife at the ready.

Lincoln appreciated the use of non-lethal rounds, he would gladly extend the same curtesy. No guns, no killing, so he can interrogate them, afterwards, he was thinking about turning them over to Slade and depending on what he does, he and Lucy may need to leave post haste.

Lincoln tilted his body and kept moving, not letting his last attacker land a hit with the knife, Lincoln blocked their knife wielding arm and palmed them in the shoulder, sending them skidding backwards as they landed on a knee.

They picked themselves back up and reengaged.

As they went in for swipe, Lincoln grabbed their knife hand by the wrist and twisted it, forcing them to drop their weapon.

Lincoln, channeling his inner Lynn's wrestling persona, lifted his opponent over his shoulder and threw them over. That tumble didn't take the fight out of the attacker as they came back with just their fists.

Lincoln dodged punch after punch without any trouble until his opponent overextended themselves, he then grabbed and threw them over his shoulder with a judo flip.

Putting a foot over their chest, Lincoln pressed hard, he was about ready to knock the last guy out before they spoke.

"Wait, wait, STOP!" Lincoln knew that voice.

He lifted his foot off of the woman, removed her mask and he just couldn't believe it.

"Goddammit, YOU, whatever your name is!" It was the same woman from the day before who was chewing out Francis.

"It's Beth." She wheezed out trying to catch her breath.

"Yeah, don't care, what the fuck is this about?" Lincoln said trying to contain the aggression that was building up.

"We just wanted to see what you'd do-" *Hack* She probably had more to say but needed to cough after getting the wind knocked out of her.

"You know, I've killed people for ambushing me and Luce like that." He pauses and takes a hard breath in frustration, "Under different circumstances, you wouldn't get the chance to call out."

With the powers Lincoln's packing these days, he could've ended this the moment he saw them, luckily for Beth, Lincoln has really been trying to keep the body count to a minimum if he can help it.

"Look, I'm sorry but when Slade told us, you'd be comin' along for a job, we had to know if you could handle this much at least, I didn't think you'd handle us this fast.

We thought you were like the Kent boys, and I mean Frankie was just supposed to be the distraction, when you threw him over your head, we knew better than to mess with you up close.

On another note what was up with you and that samurai biz, you just took a knife and diced our rounds like a speedster and that tree jumpin' like a Goddamn ninja."

Lincoln was getting annoyed and didn't care enough to answer Beth's questions, "So this was some kind of test for me?" He deadpanned, there could have been a more practical way to do this than waiting until after his dinner date with the Kents.

"N-not just for you…" This got Lincoln's attention, *Bang* he heard a blast, *Eeeeeeeeee* followed by high-pitched echo and he knew someone tossed a flashbang, he was about to go back for Lucy when he looked back at Beth.

A small spark of electricity surged between his right index and middle finger as he pressed them to the head of a panicking Beth and she quickly passed out.

This was done by channeling and manipulating the electricity that flows through Lincoln and halts the flow of electrons that moves through the nerve-system, kind of like a mini EMP that shuts down the brain for just a moment to force the victim into a state of unconsciousness.

With that Lincoln takes off to see someone in dark armor standing over a downed Lucy and angry Salem.

-XxX-

-Earlier-

After Lincoln takes off for the 5 other assailants, Lucy notices a presence, she senses a person in a state of calmness and a tinge of excitement. She could feel it coming from above her as she looked behind her as she saw an armored figure standing atop a tree branch.

Before Lucy knew it, the armored figure leaped over to her with a big knife in hand but before they could make it close to Lucy, she raised a hand and they just hovered midair away from Lucy.

Bringing her raised hand closer to her, the would-be assailant was pulled closer and she got a good look.

The figure looked to be male and was decked out in armor, mostly dark and sleek on the chest, abdominals, arms, legs and a helmet on their head. The armor was mostly dark grey and black, the helmet was divided, the right side was black with a darkened eye hole, the left was orange with a white eye hole. Lucy notices a sword on the stranger's back the kind that Lincoln likes as seen with his manga collection and games she can't remember the word for it but knows it's Japanese.

On one hip is a submachine gun, on the other was a sheath for that knife.

One more thing Lucy notices is a large dent that nearly caves in the chest plate, it's shaped like a fist, someone has tried to punch in the man's chest cavity.

Then the figure spoke, "Good reflexes but is this all you do when faced with confrontation, suspend your target?" The man asked in a deep muffled and slightly intimidating voice.

Lucy was about to speak before the armored man took something from his back pocket and tossed it at Lucy, it was a smooth, cylinder canister of some kind, she caught it effortlessly with her TK but made the mistake of holding face-level.

*Bang* The canister was set of and a blinding flash of light forced Lucy to break focus and drop her attacker. The light also did something unexpected, it forced the large pool of shadow to shrink was pushed it away from Lucy as a small mass was ejected from the withered pool of darkness.

Out came Salem who looked physically stunned as she was forced out of her dark dwelling.

The sun goes down and with no nearby light sources, darkness soon takes hold as the view becomes more obscure.

Lucy, still blinded by the light was also disoriented by the high-pitched whining noise from the explosion, raises a hand as a TK force pushes towards where she is feeling her assailant's excitement.

The armored man sees Lucy's arm point his way as he quickly moves away and sees the bark on a nearby tree break open like it was hit by a sledgehammer. The man turned back to see a black tendril launch itself at him, he rolled out of the way and was sent flying back by a force.

He skidded back and ran as fast as he could to Lucy just as she could finally see again. Whilst in the dark, Lucy saw the armored man speed to her and as he leapt forward but he was caught and once again suspended in midair.

The armored man sighed deeply and saw shadowy spikes protrude from the ground via the cat.

"So what now? You have me again but what comes after, you just leave me alive and intact?" The man asked, what's his problem, he was captured, who was he to judge his state of being.

"I have no need to end you." Lucy says with a solid voice.

"You're hesitating, is this how you survived the dead-zone?" The attacker asked as Lucy bit her lip.

"I didn't survive by killing everything in sight, if that's how you do things, it's safe to say, I am nothing like you." She said with an edge.

"You've got that right!" He said before tossing a pellet of some kind. It was small and dark, really hard to see until it made its way to Lucy's feet and she just raised a hand a moment too late as it popped and a hazy fume made its way to her nostrils and she fainted.

Salem was near it and began wobbling but stood at her friend's fallen form.

*Crunch* The sound that made the cat and the man turn was Lincoln landing on the parted road.

One look at Lucy's downed form was all he needed to look to his opponent with rage in his eyes. 'He's dead, he just dug his own grave! FRY HIM!' The more violent part of Lincoln's mind roared in his head, 'No Lincoln, don't rush in, Lucy's still there, it's not safe for her, use your head, like master Lao Shi said, he who loses focus, loses his footing. Think it through, use that gun you got.' The calmer part of his mind reasoned.

The man looked to Lincoln, "Huh, 52 seconds, I'm impressed." He sounded almost happy, then something impacted his chest.

*BANG BANG BANG BANG* Shot after shot made its way to the armored man's chest but they bounced or even ricocheted off the bulky chest piece. 'USELESS ASS GOD DAMN RUBBER BULLETS!'

Lincoln decided to aim for the eyes, and let off another calculated round aimed straight for the white eye but the man raised an arm anddeflected the rubber bullet.

"Good aim kid. But I wonder if you can keep up NOW." The man said as if he predicted the complete absence of sunlight, now the road between the woods has been blanketed in darkness.

Lincoln's glowing golden eyes meet Salem's greenish-yellows and without any command, Salem dragged Lucy into a shadowy dome and moved further into the woods.

Now that the distraction was gone Lincoln could do this no probl- The man shot towards Lincoln in moderate speed, still too slow for Lincoln to worry about.

The man brandished a knife and Lincoln remembered he threw away his own.

Blocking the man's every stab and slice by stopping the arms, Lincoln searches for opening, only to find no flaw in the man's movement, he's honed his body well and though Lincoln may be stronger than the man in front of him that's no reason to trust that his opponent wasn't prepared for it.

Lincoln dodged a swipe at the neck when he took the opportunity to knock the blade out of the man's hand and catch it as it flipped midair, now Lincoln was armed and going on the offensive.

With his powers, Lincoln could make quick work of this but there was still the thought that he needed to appear a relatively normal mutant and hand the attacker over to Slade. At the very least, Lincoln wasn't going to light anyone up, yet.

Lincoln's new knife was being stopped by the armor plates of the man so he decided to aim for the gaps between the plating. Lincoln sped up his movements, causing his foe to hasten his own movements, Lincoln caught him by surprise and nicked the man here and there and as Lincoln went for an overhead stab, the man held Lincoln's stabbing arm at bay with both of his arms.

Lincoln added a little more force and the knife was coming down, though the expression was not visible on Lucy's attacker, Lincoln could feel the stress and panic in their inability to force him back.

But then *BZZZZT* an electrical current had zapped Lincoln's arm and forced his hand upward as the man punched away the knife and jumped back to a safe distance.

Lincoln rushed to the man but saw him reach behind him for a… katana.

'Christ! You were in on it too!' As Lincoln got closer to the man who's identity he was certain of.

"Slade! You son of a-" Slade took a swipe as Lincoln put up his arms to shield himself. The blade sliced through Lincoln's unprotected skin, an impressive feat at this point, for a simple bladed weapon at least.

Lincoln jumped back and watched as blood careened down to his fingers and he adopted a fierce look.

"Slade, what the fuck is this about?" Lincoln half shouted, trying to reign himself in. There were wide gashes on both of his arms but almost instantly, the wounds were shrinking

"This was a test for the two of you, gotta say, I'm disappointed in the girl, you however, you took out my boys in under a minute." He paused as he took a look at Lincoln, "Though, we may have to put this on hold, you need medical attention." He pointed to Lincoln's arms, not knowing they were stitching and mending themselves.

Lincoln huffed, "Oh, there's no need." He said with an edge to his voice as Slade took a stance. 'So he can see me just fine, or got lucky with that thing, whatever, assume the worse, do not underestimate him.'

"Well, well, -" He stopped when Lincoln was upon him, in just a moment Lincoln was in arms reach. This shocked Slade but no matter, he slashed at Lincoln only for his blade to stop cold on Lincoln's arm, they gained a dark metallic sheen to them and Slade was starting to enjoy this more and more.

Before Slade could take another swing at Lincoln, he received a heavy punch to the chest, right where the fist shaped dent was.

Slade skidded back very far and seemed unchanged, not even winded, he took a moment to feel his chest plate to see it was holding up. 'Huh, stronger than Conner by miles but not nearly as much as the brother.'

Just as Slade was getting a chance to think, Lincoln just zoomed over to him, the armored lieutenant grinned in exhilaration and readied his sword.

Slade swung, but his blade was blocked and so he swung again. Left Right Left Right, he found his blade being halted every time. The armored lieutenant took a step back and thrusted forward, intending to impale his adversary.

Lincoln pivoted on his heel, letting the katana blade sail past him as he kicked Slade's arms up but his foe kept hold of his weapon. Lincoln, not wanting the opportunity to pass by, took his clawed hand and swiped at Slade's helmeted face. It connected and Lincoln shredded the front piece of the helmet as Slade's face was now exposed.

Slade felt blood drip from his face but smirked even harder as he readied to take on this beast. He saw the look in Lincoln's eyes and felt something akin to himself, it's the first time in a long time he's felt relaxed, not out of negligence but in anticipation for something harder than he's used to, a challenged even.

When in combat, Slade knows it's not a slugfest, one blow after another. It can all be decided in an instant; whoever could land the decisive blow first was guaranteed victory.

The thing is, this Lincoln was much, MUCH faster than him, apparently he could see just fine in the dark, dodge bullets from behind and can grow armor and claws but then of course to top it off, he can heal very quickly.

Slade had the feeling this was just the beginning.

Lincoln took down his men under a minute, Slade could do it no problem, but he needs more than just a minute, sure Lincoln's a mutant but that shouldn't make a difference if Lincoln had to engage in CQC, which is obvious with that newly acquired gun that definitely belonged to one his own.

'Just who the hell are you, Lincoln Park?' Slade thought as he drew his gun and readied his blade.

And the two clashed once again, determined to find a winner.

-XxX-

-Kent House-

After their guests had left, the family of six had begun talking or in Martha and Conner's case arguing over his choice in words. Meanwhile off to the side, Clark, Karen and Jonathan are just talking about dinner as Kara stares off in deep thought.

"So, uh… what'd you two think?" Pa Kent asked his two eldest.

"They were alright, Lucy was quiet, which is to be expected from the whole goth thing. Lincoln is more of the talker but he kinda seems off." Voiced Clark, then Karen speaks up.

"I don't know, they seem cool. Lincoln really cleans up well, like really well, ditch the shades and jacket, put on a nice shirt and he could charm his way through town." Karen ends with a smirk.

"Okay, but what did you think? The day we met them, you both looked, concerned, worried even, are you still worried, now?" The Kent patriarch tried to fish for a specific response.

The two eldest looked to each other and shrugged.

Clark started, "I guess, after getting to know them, they must've been through a lot. The other day, the guy looked ready to shoot someone without thinking twice but at the table he was… I don't know." He ends as Karen picks up.

"Like he was the most stable person on the planet?" She tried to finish her cousin's thoughts.

"Maybe, or maybe he just didn't see a threat and all was right with the world." Clark tried to explain.

Jonathan nodded, he and his wife feel like they understood their guests, that there's more to them than what they saw a couple of days ago.

Just then Kara made her thoughts known, "I think he's hiding something." She said getting her uncle's attention.

"And what do you think it is?" He asked curious over what Kara might be thinking.

"I don't know, I mean he told us a lot about his travels but I was expecting more, I don't know, horror stories about the dead-zone, the things I heard about it make it sound like one of those post-apocalyptic movies we've seen but here comes a well-mannered couple, who say they came from so deep in the dead-zone, they were where it started, y'know at ground-zero. He just seems so… normal, well-adjusted-" Kara would go on but Conner interrupted her.

"That's because he wasn't there!" Conner shouted. "The guy is lying, they'd be dead if they came from that deep, I bet all his stories were bullshit, *"Conner!"* whatever!" She shouted to his mother as his brother glared his way. "The only reason he could ever survive is cause he can lift someone else's powers, figures, assholes like him like to think they're tough when they can't even back it up."

"And there goes the pot calling the kettle black." Sassed Karen.

"You got something to say?" Conner tried to walk up to his cousin.

"Uh, I just said it, you got a hearing problem now, too?" Karen stomps to him as everyone tries to get between them.

*BANG*

Everyone flinches back in worry.

Kara speaks first, "Oh My God!" Then her sister.

"Do you think that was them or… someone after them?" No one says anything until someone got up.

Clark walks out as his father calls out to him, "Son, don't." The Kent patriarch says, worried for his oldest.

Clark looks back, "I have to go, I have to help Lincoln and Lucy." It was as simple as that.

His mother spoke up with clear distress, "Honey, it's dark how will you find your way, how do you know you can even help." Marth doesn't mean to sound indifferent to the two but that's her son going out.

"I'll make due, get a light an-" He's stopped by his cousin, Karen.

"Not a problem, I'm going with Clark." She announced to the concern of her family.

Conner, who had been silent up until this point was about to say something before Clark looks to him, "No." And just like that, Conner stomps to him.

"If it's a bunch of raiders, you bet your ass, I'm going." He said half sounding eager to bust some heads and half unsure.

"If it is, that's why you need to stay here, for them." Clark gestures to Ma, Pa and Kara.

Kara spoke out, "Look if you three are-" She silenced as everyone shouts NO to her and she shrinks back, "Fine!"

Karen's the first one out the door as her hands light up as the path ahead of them begins to darken.

Clark and Karen run quickly, following the sounds of gunshots. They're a good distance away from the farm and further down the road as they hear running behind them.

Karen looks back and sees a figure, not waiting, she shoots a concussive beam of light at her foe only to see them put their hand up and be pushed back.

The person stalking them let out a grunt the two recognized and groaned as this person spoke up.

"Dammit, don't you know how to wait and see who it is you're shooting at, Fuck!" The angry words spoken by Conner as he examined his now ruined shirt, "Gee, thanks."

Clark angrily yells out, "Didn't I tell you to stay with them, why won't you just listen to me?"

Conner looks defiant and shouts back, "Because if these people make it into town when we could've done something, then that's on us!" Conner says without hesitation.

But then Clark calls out, "And if something happens to mom, dad or even Kara, then that's on you! GO! BACK! NOW!" Clark calls out as if it's his final warning but then

*BANG*

There was an explosion followed by a brief light farther ahead, Clark and Karen paused just long enough for Conner to rush passed them and ignore their calls, so they were left only to run onward to the sound of more gunfire.

Clark was confident that he and maybe his brother could take gun shots to an extent, Karen has a good enough charge from this morning and can be much stronger than Conner, depending on her charge. Right now Kara and the folks are all alone, Kara's not strong like her sister and cousins, she's supposed to fly away to safety.

The three start to hear lots of unusual noises, clanging, slashes and things being broken, gun shots and they see some light.

They approach carefully as Karen shines her light brightly, illuminating the image in front of them.

Slade was pinned, bloodied and bruised, his legs frozen in a block of ice, an arm sunken into the ground like it was swallowed up, his katana stabbed into the ground beside his head and his other arm held down by an armored clawed hand belonging to the man they just had over for dinner.

On top of Slade was Lincoln. His clothes were riddled with bullet holes, there were cuts on his face and chest, he was bleeding. His arms were coated in what seems to be metal, one hand held Slade's arm down as the other was hovering over his head and was cackling with electricity. Lincoln's eyes were dull but fierce golden in color, they didn't look angry but rather serious, focused and beastly as if daring his prey to make a move.

Slade's eye was not filled with fear but anticipating the next move, he looked at peace, ready to accept what would come.

The two didn't even acknowledge the Kent brothers and miss Danvers, not until the light shined over them as they turned their faces towards the stunned three.

-Lucy-

Snoring, all Lucy could hear was the pleasant sounds of her lover sleeping, a rare luxury that could not be afforded for him at times, his snoring was her music box, granted it had nothing on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart but it was a pleasant and relaxing time for her, especially when she had Lincoln dozing upon her lap.

Her… non bone-white lap, they were more corpse grey like they had been several years ago, before HD. Lucy took another look at the snoring bundle of white hair. The head was significantly smaller than she was used to and the skin beneath the hair was a pasty-pinkish peach skin tone, like when he was 14.

Lucy realizes it must be a dream.

But… does she want to wake up? She's got Lincoln, he's relaxed, sleeping even. They're on a couch, and now a book appears before her, it's a list of quotes from various philosophers and writers but one particular line has her interest.

Give A Man A Mask And He Will Show You Who He Truly Is – Oscar Wilde

She stared at it for a long time and of course, she thinks of herself and Lincoln. She thinks to herself, 'When are we wearing our masks and what truly are our masks?' Lincoln is normally withdrawn and very unsocial, unless it calls for it but usually he's so hard on himself. He thinks himself a monster, tries desperately to reclaim himself only to lose what makes him Lincoln.

Lucy notices when he talks to people, Lincoln adopts some his sisters' personality traits. He tries to force jokes to lighten the mood, awful puns, Luan style, he's embraced Lynn's competitive side like with that weird food challenge by Mrs. Kent and then there's Luna's reference to music.

For example, when choosing his cover name, he made a music pun out of it, Lincoln Park. Luna and Luan would get a kick out of it.

She feels young Lincoln stir, "Lucy, what's wrong?" He grumbles, drifting in and out of sleep as she runs her hands over his hair.

"Nothing, Lincoln, go back to sleep, you need your strength." She says gently but hears his voice again.

"But how can I sleep, when I'm too busy protecting you?" The more mature voice she's been used to is heard from her side, she turns over and sees her lover, adult Lincoln.

"W-wha- but…" Lucy looks back to her lap and sees no one, her dream Lincoln, gone.

"It's time to wake up, Lucy." He says softly.

"No, I want to stay here with you, no more pain, no more trouble, no more…" She can't finish as Lincoln spoke up again.

"It's time, Lucy." He says with a little more force.

"No!" She yells out.

"WAKE UP, LUCY!" Lincoln screams.

"No!" Lucy resists.

*MEOWR*

"W-What." That startles her.

~X~

*Rowr* Salem is standing on her chest meowing and trying to bring Lucy into consciousness.

It's dark but Lucy can see the glowing yellow-green eyes of her feline companion, Salem. She begins tugging on Lucy's collar with her teeth, desperately trying to get Lucy up.

"Alright, I'm awake, what could be so wrong for you to wake me at this hour, Sal-" She stopped as she felt the dirt ground and a flood of memories rush through her head and feels a rumbling in the earth, "Lincoln!" She screams as she hovers and flies off to the light source, where she feels a wide range of emotions.

-XxX-

Back with the Kent – Danvers family of three.

Lincoln, their dinner guest was looming menacingly over Slade, who looked elated if anything. Each wounded and in need of medical attention and evidence to Lincoln's ability to apprehend someone like Slade.

Karen didn't know who started this but one thing was clear, Lincoln looked ready to kill and until they got the whole story, they needed to get Lincoln away from Slade, the lieutenant in charge of the Smallville base, responsible for keeping the town safe.

Karen raised her fists and leveled them at Lincoln that shined in his face and also marked where she'd hit.

"I am giving you a warning, back away from the man, right now." She was stern and though she believed her power to be ineffective but she and her cousins need to approach this carefully.

Suddenly, she was pulled onto her knees, her arms spread, still glowing but facing away from Lincoln and unable to turn to the new voice that spoke.

"And I'm giving you a warning, lay your arms down, or they're coming off!" The voice of Lucy cut through the darkness as all but Karen was able to face her. Her eyes her glowing intensely and promised a world of hurt to any who crosses her.

Unfortunately, Conner isn't afraid.

"I knew it, you're both just a couple of raiders aren't you!" He refuses to understand that he was out of his depth and charges ahead without care.

But then tendrils of shadows emerge from the ground as they wrap and bind Conner, immobilizing him as a big black cat like a jaguar, reveals itself from the tree lining. Its glowing yellow eyes boring down on Conner as two sharpened spikes are raised to his neck.

Clark vaults up and tries to slam down on the big shadowy cat but its feet dissolved into an inky mass and glided over to the other side of Lucy. Clark was about to charge into the darkness but his eyes met with a pair of molten golden-amber eyes, the same kind that were locked onto Slade, he looked over and saw the darkened outline of Lincoln still on top of Slade.

Another Lincoln, he was staring at another Lincoln and as their eyes met, Clark could feel strength leave him, his will fading.

But then, Slade's voice called out, "Alright, that's enough! Why don't we take a minute to calm down and talk this over? Clark, Karen, ~Connie~, I appreciate your… intervention but this was my doing.

Mr. Park, Ms. Graves, would you please let them go so I can explain why I had my men attack you."

As he finished, The Kents looked distressed, they knew what this was about and felt embarrassed by what happened.

Karen felt the hold on her fade as she dimmed her lights in a more non-threatening manner. Clark saw the second Lincoln in front of him vanish into a misty white aura that made its way to the Lincoln still on Slade. The dark bindings on Conner released and faded as the giant cat dissolved into the little Salem they're familiar with.

Then Lincoln leapt off of Slade and landed near Lucy, the metallic coating on his arms receded down from his shoulders to his finger tips and then, gone. The electricity stopped surging, he raised one hand to Slade and the ice melted into water and then evaporated, the part of the ground that had swallowed Slade's arm had widened as the arm was tugged free.

"Much obliged." Slade said as he stood up.

Lincoln with eyes narrowed looked over to Slade and took a breath, "Now that that's over with, explain what this is about!" Lincoln demanded.

Karen shined a light over to Lincoln, saw and remembered the bullet holes, "That can wait, we need to get you help first!" She said sounding very worried for the wounded man.

Lincoln held up a hand, "No need." Was all he said before Clark voiced his concerns.

"What do you mean, you were jus-" He's stopped as Lincoln took off his shirts to reveal, there are no wounds, the blood was there but there were no signs of any harm. Lincoln was healed already. He uses the orange undershirt to clean up the blood and burns it into a pile of ash as he puts the tattered black shirt back on.

There was silence between the Kent – Danvers trio. Karen had been checking out Lincoln, admiring his physique, 'Oh my God, he cut!"

Clark was at a loss for words, he knew Lincoln had copying powers and even met a power leech but this had to be something else, 'What are you?'

Conner just felt like shit, seeing the plethora of abilities Lincoln possess was shocking, he assumed Lincoln could do nothing on his own but here he was, had beaten Slade to the ground without Lucy or his cat.

Slade speaks, "Since we're on the subject of explanations, can I… assume my men are dead?" He tried asking politely.

Lincoln stood silent as everyone turned to him. "And what would you say if they were?" He asked rhetorically.

That horrified the trio, Slade's men all dead, by Lincoln no less, it may have been expected on the first day they all met but still, they now know the circumstances as to why could he have done such a thing, but it makes it no less a horrifying thing to happen to the people protecting Smallville.

Slade responds, "Then I'd say, they knew what they were getting into when I put them up to this. I'd tell everyone they all died because of me."

This really upset Lucy, they were ambushed by masked assailants and though Lincoln is trying to do things differently, they both still live in a world that will continue to push Lincoln into taking lives. She fears Lincoln will go down that dark path once more and Slade is not doing them any favors with this stunt.

Though it didn't show on her face, Lucy was getting very angry. The Kent – Danvers trio looked as pleased as Lucy does and Lincoln looked passive.

"Then I guess, you'll have to say something else then, seeing as they're still alive, hurt but alive." As he sheepishly said those words, everyone looked and felt much more relieved.

Slade had an honest smile on his still bleeding face, "Now, would you mind if we took this back to your place, considering you're involved now." Slade said facing Clark, Karen and Conner.

The three looked to Clark as he agreed.

"Great, now, who'd like to help bring in my boys-" Lincoln immediately spoke up.

"Not it!" He and Lucy turn and walked back to the Kent house.

-XxX-

Kara had been worried sick, Conner took off without so much as a warning and Ma and Pa are trying to seem casual for her sake when they are just as frightened. Jonathan was pacing with a gun in hand, Martha was discreetly offering a prayer while Kara herself was floating aimlessly.

She really couldn't help it, she's in distress, she's alone with her aunt and uncle while her sister and cousins were off fight who-knows what as they try to help her new friends.

She slowly breaths in and out, attempting to relax herself before a knock at the door startles her.

She flies to the door against her uncle's warning, peeks out to see Lincoln, his clothes covered in bullet holes and some blood stains then without a second thought, she opens the door wide open to let him in.

What she saw after, Lincoln, next to Lucy who was carrying Salem but aside from that, there were two people floating near her, one masked and the other unmasked to reveal Beth.

Following Lincoln and Lucy were a bloodied Slade, Clark, Conner and Karen, each carrying a masked person.

Kara looks questioning towards Lincoln and Lucy, "So… I think I know what this is about but I gotta ask, what happened?"

Lincoln just looked to his girlfriend who shrugged, "Why do you think something happened?" He asked not waiting for an answer, "Oh right, six unconscious guys."

Kara just deadpans, "Well there's that and the shocking number of obvious bullet holes in your clothes, so I'm guessing there's a story here."

Lincoln retorts, "Well, all things considered, I think this is as about an average week night for me, but you mind if we come in? We kinda have some business with the lieutenant to get through."

Kara shrugs and left the door open as she retreated back into her home.

~X~

Slade is standing in front of Lincoln and Lucy who are flanked by the Kent – Danvers family, minus Jonathan, curious as to why Slade would attack their dinner guests.

Jonathan comes back with a nice white shirt that was about Lincoln's size and hands it to the man.

With a word of thanks, Lincoln accepts it and removes his ruined black shirt. He makes his way to the bathroom as the eyes of Lucy and Kara follow him with a slight blush.

Slade's men were piled up on the couch as almost everyone else were in the dining room.

"Now that I have you here, first, Jonathan, Martha, thank you for lending us your home and for your hospitality. Ms. Graves, I apologize for ruining yours and Mr. Park's evening here but this wasn't something we could just schedule in advanced." Slade starts.

Lucy spoke up, "Why did you attack us?" With this, Conner answered.

"He does this for everyone!" Conner seems to have some feelings behind this.

Lucy asks, "And what is that supposed to mean?"

"I'd like to know too." Everyone turned as Lincoln came back. "Also thanks for the shirt, I'll return it as soon as possi-" Jonathan held up a hand.

"Don't worry about it, this wasn't your fault." Pa Kent sent a slight glare to Slade.

Lincoln goes on, "So what was this about?"

"Right, you remember when I told you I don't like involving the civilians here, even if they're volunteers." Lincoln nods, "Well, the long-short of it is, a good chunk of the residents here in Smallville have powers, like you and Ms. Graves here.

After the incident in El Paso a while back, our number were nearly cut in half. Every one of my men have to pull double duty, patrol and scouting has been a lot harder, occasional pest control has gotten a lot riskier and that's without getting new, untrained non-combatants ready for the shit coming their way." He looks to Martha, "Apologies. Anyway, people here try to offer their services, thinking because they got powers, they're just what we need." He briefly looks to Conner then continues.

"So I put them through a little test, a trial by fire if you will. They take on a couple of my guys, maybe go a few rounds with me and you're in, if not, then you're not. And believe it or not, no one besides yourself has gotten past me in… ever, not even Clark here." Lincoln, shockingly looks to the big guy as he looks away.

"I know what you're thinking, what's so special about him, well, while you couldn't even put a scratch on this thing." He points to his chest plate, "Farm hand over here, nearly caved in my chest. Bullets bounced off him, rubber, metal, didn't matter, couldn't even cut him, unlike you, but a little incapacitating agent put him down quick."

Lucy, Kara and Conner were a bit lost before Lincoln spoke up, "Knockout gas." He stated with a dry tone as they nodded.

"When I heard what you and Ms. Graves did to the things that's been giving us trouble for the last month, the deathclaws as the locals call them." That got the family of six's attention.

Conner shouted, "Them? Those things are dead and… it was THEM?" To that, Slade nodded.

"Yes, in my scout's report, all five dead. One had been completely decapitated, another's head crushed into itself, I'll assume that was Ms. Grave's handy work." To that she nodded. "One had half of its face blown off, and the last two had the top portions of their head torn off, was that you Mr. Park?"

Lincoln responded, "Sort of, the big one was more of a combined effort." He smiled as Lucy elbowed him.

The Kent family was stunned, not horrified or afraid of the gruesome fate that befell the monsters, just a little shaken up that the group of three had taken care of their problem and didn't look worse for wear.

"When I sent my men after you, Francis broke formation and charged ahead, remind me to tear him a new one for that, we were supposed to draw your attention and split you up, we knew better than to charge at the both of you together or most of us did. Fuckin Francis." He muttered that last part silently.

"I have to say, I'm a little disappointed that Ms. Graves didn't end it right there." Lucy was silent but Lincoln saw her fists tightening.

"Are you disappointed to still be breathing, Lieutenant?" Lincoln sassed.

"Nonsense, but she knew, we were there to hunt maybe kill you both and the most she did was choke me out, a trained killer had more than enough time to get out of it. That inability to pull the trigger is bound to get you killed on the field." Lucy looked down as Lincoln gritted his teeth, "Killing monsters is one thing, people… when you hesitate with a person, you die, the moral high-ground is not a luxury one can afford in the battle for survival." Slade didn't say it to be mean and didn't even sound angry, more like a concerned individual who has had that experience but Lincoln really didn't want to hear this talk, not directed at Lucy anyway.

"I used to think that too, but that was a different time for us, but enough about that, you said you did this with everyone?" Lincoln asked, to get off the subject.

"Not everyone, just everyone who wanted to go on a job with us, Clark, Karen and Conner quite a number of times already," He chuckles to see Conner fuming at him.

"Them and everyone else with powers and out of everyone, you're the only one I like. I really like what I saw back there." Slade said with his eye narrowed.

Lincoln thought this would be a good time for a joke, "Look dude, I appreciate the compliment but I'm just not into you." He smirked but no one offered him a laugh, *Sigh* "Really? No one?"

*Cough* "I can tell you're not like everyone else, you didn't hesitate when you got serious, that's hard to find here. So if you'd like, the job's open and what we agreed on is still on the table." Slade said.

Lincoln looked to Lucy and nodded, "Yeah, I'm still in."

"Excellent, truth be told, I'm very interested to see what you'll do next, I've never seen an assortment of powers like yours Mr. Park, I look forward to working with you." Slade extended his hand.

Lincoln looked at it for a moment before shaking it.

-XxX-

Lincoln and Lucy headed out back into town as Slade and his men stayed with the Kents to talk.

Conner, Clark, Karen and Kara were talking to Slade, "I though he copied powers, what the hell was that back there?" Conner asked both Slade and Kara.

"I've seen power-thieves and leeches but that is something else, I saw quite a few things and I get the feeling that was only the tip of the iceberg." Slade throws in as Kara stared on in silent thought.

Clark spoke, "Obviously that's his story, if he doesn't wanna tell it, that's his deal. Let him keep his secrets, we've all got something to hide." He said before leaving for his bed.

'I wonder what else he's hiding?" Kara thought to herself.

-Lincoln & Lucy-

The two lovers walked along the dirt road for the second time as Lincoln lit the way. From his hands flew dozens of little orbs of light, each hovering like fireflies. It was more for her than him.

"Are you sure you're okay, Lucy?" Lincoln asks, worried she may be more injured than she let on.

"I told you, I'm fine." She said with no hostility, but reassurance.

Lincoln, the doting boyfriend, trying to tend to his girl and trying not to annoy her while making his concerns known, "But still-" He's stopped by Lucy.

"Sigh, if you're that worried, when we get back, you can inspect every inch of my body and see for yourself." She ended with a grin and a light blush as Lincoln did a double take, fumbling his words and just nodded.

Lucy continued their talk, "Aside from the unwelcomed interruption, you had a good time, right?"

"Yeah, they were cool, and seeing as there's another Ace Savvy fan here, this might be a good place to stay for a while." With that, Lucy began thinking about Kara.

"Also the food, I guess there are perks to being this close to the border, man, Mrs. Kent knew what she was doing with- THE LEFTOVERS!" Lincoln shouted now noticing neither were carrying it, "Aw man, we must've left it back-" Again he's stopped by Lucy.

She points to her shadow that darkened and a dark blob presented the tray of food that was given to them. "Thank you, Salem. Now what were you saying, *"Never mind"* what did Slade say about you agreeing on a deal before?"

"Right, well when he told me about a job, just pest control apparently, we worked out a deal. We're getting our baby back, fuel, spare parts, the works." He finished as Lucy's mouth widen with a grin

"That's right, Luce, the mighty Loud Hog #7 will ride once more."

END

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[Since I have some time to kill, I wanted to talk personalities. It's early for the story but the things I want to talk about aren't here yet and though I've got some much appreciated feedback from PM's about pacing, I'd like to know if I'm doing a decent (not great but decent) job so far.]

Lincoln: right now he's supposed to be all over the place, he wears a series of masks and the only time he shows vulnerability is in private moments with Lucy, he's haunted by the things he's done and puts on a front with anyone other than Lucy. He's supposed to be a sarcastic asshole or a playful dick to people he doesn't like but knows when to shut up with authorities. He needs to put up the good-boy Lincoln routine especially around parental figures. He emulates a bit of his sisters while trying to blend in and hold regular conversation. Overall he's a bit of a mess in private but in public he's different. He's a big dork who quotes movies and loves nerd crap, as of late he's more into star wars.

Lucy: in canon, she's on the nose with her goth persona, here she's dark and tortured for real and just doesn't announce it so often. After witnessing so many inhuman feats and a 'miracle' by Lincoln, she show a little too much interest in Lincoln almost like worship. Later she'll show more of herself when she's not with Lincoln.

Mr and Mrs Kent are the accepting, straight-laced parents.

Clark and Karen aren't really important to the story right now and are just modeled for the 'perfect' big brother and the overprotective, flirty older sister.

I'm kind of modeling Conner after the young justice season 1 superboy, except he's not part of a superhero team and just being a teenager who's barely dealing with his own issues and just ends up taking it out on everyone around him. Even though he's ooc, I'm trying to make him similar to his animated counterpart and not Conner bashing, I really like superboy and how he grew.

Kara is supposed to be that 'girl next door' for the nerd in me and we'll see more of her later.

I hope everyone is staying safe and indoors. See you next time.